United and Continental Airlines to get in-flight WiFi starting mid-2012

If you do much traveling, you'll be glad to know that there will soon be more airlines offering in-flight WiFi, allowing you to enjoy your wireless gadgets in the skies. United Continental Holdings announced today that more than 300 of its United Airlines and Continental Airlines mainline jets will be getting equipped with WiFi starting in mid-2012 with the complete fleet being equipped by 2015.

United Continental Holdings has selected the Global Communications Suite from Panasonic Avionics Corporation for the job. The Panasonic system will be installed on the Airbus 319 and 320 as well as the Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777, and 787 aircrafts. This will allow passengers to connect their wireless devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets to the internet via the onboard hotspot.

Airlines are really stepping it up now with the connectivity. Japan Airlines recently announced adding in-flight WiFi on its US and European routes, while American Airlines is even replacing in-flight screens with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Continental has also previously revealed that it would be installing satellite-based WiFi on its more than 200 DirecTV-equipped aircrafts starting in 2012.